First reported 6 Sep 2015•Latest report 14 Sep 2023
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of arrangements specifically intended to give officers practical access to, time for reviewing, and familiarisation with required operational instructions, including ADAM System/Post Instruction access and systems for ensuring familiarity with local directives and instructions.
Not included
Excludes generic officer training, staffing or workload deficiencies where access to or familiarisation with required operational instructions is not the identified unsafe condition.
Excludes failures to follow an instruction after the officer had reliable access to and understanding of it.
Excludes clinical, prison, aviation or other non-police instruction systems unless the assertion directly concerns officer access to required operational instructions in the same bounded police context.
Excludes deficiencies in the substantive content of an instruction where access and familiarisation are not the unsafe condition.
Reports
7
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
13
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2015–2023
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
15
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Metropolitan Police Service3
British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association1
Care UK1
Chelmsford Prison1
College of Policing1
Corporate Officers of the House of Commons1
Corporate Officers of the House of Lords1
Department for Transport1
Dorset Police1
Family's solicitors1
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary1
Home Office1
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust1
Maritime and Coastguard Agency1
National Police Chiefs’ Council1
Police force6
NHS trust2
Executive non-departmental public body1
Maritime safety agency1
Ministerial department1
Multi-service care provider1
National policing body1
Prison or young offender institution1
Public transport authority1
Transport sector body1
Type not available1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
Concerns raised1
Absence of effective dissemination, access and awareness of the "Working near Water Procedure"
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Disseminate the revised Working Near Water Procedure, provide access to its linked training, and direct frontline staff to complete the updated package.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight ConstabularyStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 18 September 2023.
Action
Implement the revised Working Near Water Procedure and require the associated training through the specified delivery arrangements.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight ConstabularyStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 18 September 2023.
Action
Disseminate the revised Working Near Water Procedure, link its e-learning package, and direct frontline officers and staff to complete the updated training.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight ConstabularyStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 18 September 2023.
Dorset
Concerns raised1
Lack of formal information and steps for sourcing fire drop keys
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Identify vulnerable residents in privately owned communal premises, obtain relevant keys and fobs, and store access arrangements locally with linked incident-management instructions.
Stated by Dorset PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 January 2021.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Confusion among police officers about how Merlin recording should work in practice
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Introduce a Merlin Toolkit advising officers when to complete reports and requiring Vulnerability Assessment Framework-based risk assessment.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 30 December 2020.
Berkshire
Concerns raised2
Lack of easy digital access to, and efficient updating and storage of, police procedures and policies
Failure to encourage officers to consult infrequently used SOPs and guidance
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Establish governance and service-improvement units responsible for developing accessible, role-specific operational guidance.
Stated by Thames Valley PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 September 2019.
Action
Update drugs-recovery standard operating procedures into simpler, role-specific operational guidance.
Stated by Thames Valley PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 September 2019.
Action
Develop access to simplified operational guidance through officers’ mobile phones.
Stated by Thames Valley PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 13 September 2019.
Action
Introduce Local Police Area points of contact to communicate new guidance and encourage staff review.
Stated by Thames Valley PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 September 2019.
London Inner (West)
Concerns raised6
Lack of clear required intervals for officers to access the ADAM System
Failure to provide revised Post Instructions directly to relevant officers
Insufficient time for officers to access the ADAM System and review Post Instructions
Failure to brief officers on the rationale for changes to Post Instructions
Failure of officers to register for and access the ADAM System
Insufficient facilities for officers to access the ADAM System
This report raised 12 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Maintain mandatory ADAM registration and regular access, with supervision checks, compliance reporting, and live audit functionality.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 December 2018.
Action
Email post-instruction changes directly to all PaDP officers, requiring read confirmations and auditing compliance.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 December 2018.
Action
Review whether officers’ standby time is sufficient for accessing and refreshing post instructions at the scheduled challenge meeting.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 20 December 2018.
Action
Ensure the PaDP OFC Sergeant explains the rationale for post-instruction changes to AFOs.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 20 December 2018.
Action
Complete the ongoing network upgrade to increase officer access to terminals across PaDP sites.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 December 2018.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Individual hard copies and mass email distribution of post instructions are restricted by document security and email limitations.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
South London
Concerns raised1
Lack of required reading and ready reference on restraint techniques and dangers
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Replace lengthy policing procedures with accessible toolkits, including a live Mental Health Toolkit.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 July 2017.
Essex
Concerns raised1
Lack of a system ensuring that all officers are familiar with local directives and instructions
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Pin
Get email alerts
Request correction
Includes failures of arrangements specifically intended to give officers practical access to, time for reviewing, and familiarisation with required operational instructions, including ADAM System/Post Instruction access and systems for ensuring familiarity with local directives and instructions.
